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Torii's confidence never wavered despite slow start

4/5/14: Torii Hunter blasts a bases-clearing double and a two-run homer, plating five runs for the Tigers vs. the Orioles

By Chris Vannini and Matt Slovin
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MLB.com |

DETROIT -- Torii Hunter has been around the block, so there was no worry when he started the season 0-for-9.

Since a groundout in the first inning Friday, Hunter reached safely in seven of his past nine plate appearances entering Sunday, including two home runs and a double.

"I always say, the same guys that hit .400 in April, look at their numbers in September. They're the same guys," Hunter said. "No matter what you do, how you start, it's how you finish. If you look at my history, I've always hit .280, .300, 20 [home runs] with 90 [RBIs]. It's going to be around there somewhere, no matter how I start. I don't panic. Just you guys."

Getting hit by a pitch Friday started the roll, followed by a solo home run. On Saturday, he drove in three runs with a double, and later hit a two-run homer.

"No matter who pitched today, I felt good," Hunter said Saturday. "When you're hot, the ball slows itself down. It doesn't matter who's pitching. You feel good, you have good at-bats. It started [Friday] with good swings and it just carried over. No matter who pitched, if I felt bad, then I'm going to be bad. Because I felt good, that's the way it goes."

Chris Vannini is a contributor to MLB.com. Matt Slovin is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.